[WillyWonkaJr]

The air traffic controller union was asking for a 32-hour work week and a $10,000 a year raise. The counter offer would give them salaries higher than the private sector, but keep the work week at 5 days instead of 4. So they went on strike.

After the workers disobeyed a Federal judge's orders to return to work, they were fired.

EDIT: It's so funny that if you make any comment that doesn't tow the left wing narrative here on HN you're down voted. I'm not right or left, but find it kinda sad.

[dml2135]

There are privately-employed air traffic controllers?

[WillyWonkaJr]

The salaries were in comparison to the private sector. TBH I'm not sure what jobs & ages they chose to compare Federal salaries to the private sector. Seems kinda arbitrary. Perhaps it was in comparison to private sector union workers?

[blantonl]

Yes, a number of smaller airports are staffed by contract tower controllers.

[ck2]

Do the reasons for firing them (looked it up, over 11,000 !) even matter?

Because the remainder and future employment prospects for ATC simply looked at how they were treated and how they had absolutely no options and decided to NOPE NOPE out of that profession.

And so here we are:

naming airports after people whose actions eventually led to the specific reasons for the disaster

[WillyWonkaJr]

You said "Reagan fired thousands upon thousands of ATC because they dared to ask for proper wages." All I did was correct you, and I didn't do so rudely. The rational reaction would be, "Huh, this issue is more complex than I initially thought. I should learn more about it."